Toothbrush container



Jan. 12, 1932.

R. T. CASE 1,840,433

TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Filed March 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J Msfliiforneys R. T. cAsE ,840,433

TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed March 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 F 13 .9 Z77 5 I F n 55 ZZ a? /8 I0 54- 20a $0 m zoa.

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stares Parent orsic s HOLLAND '1; CASE, OFgLA CBGSSE, WISCONSIN TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Applicationfiled March 3, 1930. Serial No. 432,798.

This invention relates to containers and Another object is to provide a holder or con-, holding devices for small articles and while tainer for a numberof tooth brushes, having adapted for Wide general use, is'especia'lly therein anindicating device progressed autoapplicable for holding and rendering ,,conmatically by the withdrawal of the tooth *venientl accessible a )luralit 1 of articles brushes from the container the holdin ele- 551;

which it is desirable to use successively, such ments of the device being so constructed that a as for einunple,-tooth brushes the-articles must be swung to remove the same Authorities on dental hygiene at this time from the-container thereby progressively acstrongly recommend the successive use of a tuating the indicator.

plurality of tooth brushes varying in shape, These and other objects and advantages of ea-at: structure and sometimes size, in order that the invention will be fully set forth'in the folthe variously shaped teeth and interproximal lowing description made in connection :with' spaces may be properly cleansed and further the accom sanying drawings, wherein like in'order that the brushes may be thoroughly reference characters refer to similar parts 1 dried and stiffened before againbeing used. throughout the several views, and wherein Y It is an objectof my invention to provide Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tooth brush a simple and highly eficient container for cabinet embodying my invention, comprising holding and housing a plurality of articles a panel, whereon are mounted a plurality of: such as tooth brushes and for rendering the" removable unit containers;

same conveniently accessible. Fig. Q/is a top plan view of the same; 7 It is a further ob ect to provide in a con- Fig. '3 is a vertical section taken on the line tainer of'the type above described, an autoof Fig. 1; matic indicator progressively operated by the Fig. i is a. front elevation of one of the removal of the articles in the container to in tooth brush containers detached, the door dicate the article which is to be next used. being partially broken away; 755.

Another object is to provide in'a container Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 for articles such as toothbrushes, aseries 55 of Fig. a; i of article holders, which will receive only Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line, specially constructed articles, whereby gen- 6-6 of 'Fig. 5;

orally similar articles of' another manufac- Fig. 7 is a cross section on an enlarged scale 30a ture will be excluded therefrom. taken on'the line 7-7 of Flg. at;

Still another obyect is to provide me 'con- Fig. 8 1s a vertical section taken on the line;

tainer fora plurality of 'articles,-article en- 8 8 of Fig. 7 and gaging and holding means for a. series of Fig. 9 1s a vertical section taken through a specially constructed articles varying in size. removable unit container for tooth paste.

shape or form,-so constructed and associated As shown in the drawings, .each of -my that each article holder willreceive onlyatooth brush containers comprises a rectangucertainmalre, type or shape-of article, therelar box casing 10 having an open front and by-requiring always theplacing of a. certain a-top and bottom 10a and 106 respectively,

article upona certain holder. each: provided with a series of relatively Another. ob'ect s to rovide, cabinet lar eventilat-ion a ertures 11. The interior s n o O l I -I I 1 which may comprise a series of unit containof casing 10 1s divided longitudinally by ers mount-ed upon a suitable panel or plate means of dividerplates 12, into a series (as an d removable therefrom when desired. shown three) of article holding chambers C,

Still anotherobject is to provide a decora each'adapted to contain a tooth brush. Plates t've and highly efficient cabinet, the com- 12 extend from the bottom of casing 10 to: partments or containers of which'are adapted points spaced some distance from the top to be inset within a wall and provided with thereof. An article holding element, preferefficient ventilation through the panel or face ably in the form of a fin 13 is disposed mediof the cabinet.

allyand longitudinally of each of thechamspecially constructed article, such as tooth brush B. Fins 13, as shown, extend from the upper ends of the dividing plates 12 to the medial portions thereof. The lower edges of said fins are curved substantially concentric with points 130 which constitute the fulcrums for removal of the tooth brushes, as hereafter will be more clearly shown. Each of the fins 13 is provided with an arcuate corrugation X on one face thereof, the corrugations extending concentrically with the respective fulcrum points 130 of the fins. The corrugations on the several fins may be located at different distances or radii from the fulcrum points 130, for a purpose later to be explained.

The tooth brush container 10 is provided with a hinged door 14, the hinges 1 1a being disposed in alinement with one of the longitudinal edges of the casing 10, so as not to protrude from the adjacent side wall of the casing. A spring latch 146 may be provided for retaining the door in closed position and a door handle or .knob 15 is also provided.

Mounted within the top portion of my container is an indicating device, automatically operated by the removal of the brushes from the casing to indicate the next brush which is to be used. This indicator comprises a small cylinder 16 rotatably mounted in a horizontal sleeve 17 which may be spot welded or otherwise secured to a small bracket 17a attached to the top 10a of the casing. The sleeve 17 is provided with a series of horizontally alined sight openings 17?) at the front thereof, one being provided for each of the tooth brushes or articles held in the compartment C, and located directly thereabove. A ratchet Wheel 18 is fixed to one end of cylinder 16 and has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of sleeve 17. Ratchet wheel 18 is provided, as shown, with six teeth and is operated by a pawl 19 attached to one end of a trip plate 20, which extends outwardly of and below sleeve 17 and substantially parallel with the axis of said sleeve. Trip 20 is provided with upturned arms 20a, which may be pivoted to pins 1664 provided at the ends of cylinder 16. A small abutment member 21 may be secured to the rear wall of casing 10 to limit the rearward swinging move ment of the trip plate. One of the arms 20a is connected by a coiled spring 22 with a screw or pin 22a secured adjacent the forward edge of the top 10a of the casing, said spring normally holding the trip plate in upwardly swung position. Assuming the body of cylinder 16 divided into three imaginary zones, each alined with one of the sight openings 17?), in sleeve 17, a pair of enameled or colored dots or other indicia 23 are provided for each zone arranged diametrically opposite one another. The dots for the successive zones are staggered at sixty degree angles, whereby each sixth rotation of the cylinder will successively position one of the dots or indicating elements in registration with one of the viewing apertures at the front of sleeve 17.

Between two of the said zones a series of six circumferentially spaced recesses 170 are provided adapted to be successively engaged by a spring pressed retaining element 24, which may be conveniently attached to the exterior. of sleeve 17 and which, as shown, has

a ball engaging head working through an aperture in said sleeve.

The unit container may be provided on its rear wallwith a pair of outwardly projecting attachment bosses 100 which are adapted to interlock with key-hole slots formedin a supporting bracket 26, which. as shown, is suitably secured to a wall.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated constitutes a tooth brush container or cabinet and the compartments C and fins 13 are formed to receive and hold only specially constructed tooth brushes. The handles of my tooth brushes are of such width as to nicely fit the width of the compartments and each handle is provided with anelongated slot 27 extending longitudinally thereof and of proper length to accommodate one of the fins 13. The slots of the several brushes are each provided with a laterally extending enlargement or notch 27a for accommodating a corrugation .on one of the fins. As illustrated, each of the brushes B has a differently shaped brushing surface and a differently positioned notch or enlargement 27a, corresponding to the position of the corrugation on one of the fins only. Each brush in the form of the invention shown, therefore, may only be held in one certain compartment and will be excluded from the others.

In Fig. 9 a unit container for tooth paste or a mouth wash is shown comprising an oblong-shaped casing 30 having a door 30a in the front face thereof, the hinges of said door being alined with one of the longitudinal edges of the side walls.

While my several unit containers are adapted to be used independently they are also specially adapted to be detachahly connected to a suitable panel or frame, such as is shown in Figs. 1 to 3. inclusive to constitute a highly decorative cabinet. A panel or plate P which may be constructed from sheet metal is provided with a series of symmetrically arranged openings 32 therein of proper dimenions to accommodate the container units. At the upper and lower edges of the openings 32, flanges 33 are inturned disposed at right angles to the face of the panel and the top and bottom of the casings 10 and 30 may be de tacha-bly connected thereto bysuitable means,

such-as small. screws :ol-uill'lrfittdfidl}! engaging; the-flanges .33 and beingapplied' from the ins;

terior otthe casing.

the unit; containers:

face or panel P.

pearance;

PanelPa is provided; with: ventilation aper tures 35 through. the -.face=.-thereof, onebeing;

disposed aboverthe :topiof one. of: :tllfittOOtll:

' bruslr containers :10 anda one 'being ,d'lSPOSQQl'.

below :the same and inwardly ente'ndinggyentilation cowls 36-are providedior'each of the apertures'35 cooperatingiwiththe bottom and the containers in; the manner shown l11IF'lg.'3'.-. The lower :cowls 36ilare-inclined1 to deflect air -properly-.through .the bottom 10a of; the toothzbrush containers and Tillie upper cowls are properly declined to deflect air outwardly through; the. upperi apertures The cowls have triangular :sliaped"sides;-.- 36a and ..snugly fit the containers at the.:bot-

tops of tom and top-thereof, as the case may be.

0 79emti0n.- The specially brushes are-inserted .upon their: respective holdingfins why; inserting; :the Q-handleendd the brush in upx-vardly inclined positiong. as. shown: :in- Fig. 5,- engagingqtheupper-end of the slot 27 of the brush withthe-hoolr=l3band gently pressing. doumwardly, the slot- 27 accommodating-the ceive the brush. The

edge of ;the slotted: portion tremity of the -handleon' the brush inserted will; slip: outwardly past the trip: lever;

To remove aibrush;

forefinger.) engaging the trippla'te ZO' and thereby swinging t is plate rearwardly to actuate the "indie ator through the connection Y of pawl '19 with one ofthe teeth'ot the ratchet wheel-18$ This brings tazdot or other 'indica-. tor in registration with one of the side .open

in'gs' 176 which 'is disposed aboveone of 'the brushes and shows the owner of the cabinet that the brush below the indicator is to be by depress-ing,.the

lie-hand and removed:v

In the embodiment of the .inventionillustrated, each' zbrush imayibe receivedi by only to. theespeciala one of the holding ;iins:l3 due constructed i the brush: inwar dly; and

the supper end on tthe :5 handle is pressed inwardly :usuallyrby the 5 arrangement offnotches 27a of the brushes and the corrugations X on fins 13.

In the operation of the indicator, the spring 24: prevents the indicating, cylinder'16 from slipping past the-proper. points of 'alinement controlling the -progres. sion of the cylinder for, each tripping of pressed. retainer plate 20.;.

The structuredisclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 in elusive provides an ornate cabinet, the hold-.

ing. device-or containers of which are housed within a recess m a wall.

ventilation structure, comprising the cowls 36in cooperation with the apertured top and bottom ends of the several container draft of air to be set up through each of the toothbrush containers,- thereby quickly drying the brushes and main- 1 taining them in proper condition for use,

or other articles, are as conveniently accessible from the face of the units, causes a The tooth brushes,

panel bymerely swinging open the doors :14 the-conta1ners when the same areas from mounted independently. If remove one of the containers it is desired to Sdin the interior of This permits the container fromthe wall.

From theforegoing.description, it will be an ornate and coma pact container and cabinet for tooth brushes" fin. and the particular fnotchlor enlargement. 27a. of the aslot.accoinmodatinggthe corrugae tion X'on. the p articular fin designed? .to: re I brush: is .-fulcrumed Lon the point-i and; is guided by; the curved lite-"which; is dis posed concentric: with: said .point.-. The -ex.

-. container, the articles seen that I have provided andotheusmall articles adapted to receive only specially constructed articles, ther-adapted to hold .said'articlestor convenient removal} It will further beseenthat my invention includes the cooperation of an device actuated autovides. a' unit container. which may be easily combined with an ornamental panelto form panel cooperating with the topand bottom end of the.

an attractive inset cabinet, the

. container to: provide highly eiiicient ventilation means for the brushes in the containers.

Itwill, of course,be understood that varioils-changes may be made in tails, arrangement and'proportions of the parts: withoutdeparting my invention,.which, generally stated, consists in the novel combination of parts de scribed inuthe specification and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article holder, a receiving com partment in: the form of My improved 10, this-maybe quickly accomplished by releasing the screws the container and -sim.- outwardly through. the door aperture 32 in the-paneh to beeutilized when traveling, without removal of the panel and .fur-

adapted 1 for toothbrush cabinets and containers and prothe form, de-

from the scope of a vertical channel. an elongated retaining. element promoting.

from the rear of said channel and extending longitudinally and medially of said channel and an article of slightly less width than said compartment and having a longitudinal slot accommodating said retainingelement, whereby articles of other construction will be excluded from said compartment.

2. In an article holder, a receiving compartment in the form of a vertical channel, a holding fin extending longitudinally and medially of said channel, said fin having an abutment shoulder, constituting a fulcrum at its upper end disposed inwardly of its longitudinal outer edge and spaced from the rear of said compartment and a specially constructed article of slightly less width than said channel having a longitudinal slot accommodating said fin, top of said slot terminating at a point spaced below the upper end of said article, whereby said upper end may be pressed inwardly against said fulcrum to swing the lower portion of said article outwardly in position for removal.

3. In an article holder, a receiving compartment in the form of a vertical channel, a retaining fin projecting from the rear of said channel and extending longitudinally of and medially thereof, said fin having a hook-shaped upper end, an article of slightly less width than having a longitudinal slot extending through a substantial portion thereof adapted to accommodate said fin, said slot terminating at a-point adjacent the upper end of said article.

4. In an article holder, a receiving compartment in the form of a vertical channel, a retaining fin projecting from the interme diate side of said channel and extending longitudinally and medially of the sides of said channel, said fin having an abutment shoulder at its upper end disposed inwardly of its longitudinal outer edge and outwardly from the rear of said channel, and a specially constructed article of slightly less width than said compartment having a longitudinal slot accommodating said fin, said fin having a projection on one side thereof which extends concentrically of said shoulder, said article having an enlargement in said slot positioned to accommodate said projection.

5. In an article holder, a casing having a door in the front thereof, a vertical retaining fin projecting from the rear side of said casing having hoolnshaped upper end provided with an abutment shoulder constituting a fulcrum at the rear of the hook, said fulcrum being spaced from the rear side of said casing said fin being adapted to accommodate a specially constructed article having an elongated slot therein, which slot terminates at a point below the upper end of the article to permit the article to be swung on said fulcrum, projecting its lower end through the doorway of said casing to facilitate removal.

said compartment a movable indicating ments having retaining 6.-In an article holder, a vertically disposed retaining fin, having a shoulder at its upper end disposed inwardly of the forward longitudinal edge thereof, and a curved edge disposed forwardly of said shoulder and concentric with the point of said shoulder, a narrow bulge extending transversely of said fin and curved concentrically with the point of said shoulder, said fin being adapted to receive and retain a specially constructed article having an elongated slot adapted to accommodate said fin,said slot terminating at a point below the upper end of said article, and said slot having a lateral notch or enlargement disposed to accommodate said bulge.

Exclusive retaining means for an article of manufacture, comprising a handle or analogous elongated member having therein a longitudinally extended slot which terminates at a point spaced some distance from one end of said handle or member, said slot being adapted to accommodate a complementary-shaped projecting element which is provided with a fulcrum adjacent its upper end, the portion of said handle or member disposed outwardly of the end of said slot constituting a lever arm whereby the article may be swung for convenient removal.

8.- In an article holder, a series of spaced article holding elements so constructed as to require articles to be moved through predetermined paths for attachment thereon and removal therefrom and an indicating mechanism mounted adjacent said holding elements and having an actuating element disposed adjacent said holding elements and in the paths of movement of said articles and element progressed by said actuating element.

In an article holder, a casing having a series of spaced article holding elements mounted therein, said elements being adapted to interfit with apertured portions of specially constructed articles and having hook retaining portions and adjacent fulcrum shoulders at their upper edges upon the fulcrum points of which articles must be fulcrumed for removal from said elements, an indicating device mounted above said article holders and comprising a rotary cylinder and a trip plate extending below said cylinder in the path of said articles, a ratchet fixed to said cylinder and a pawl connected with said trip plate.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, arouately arranged guides on said article holding elements adapted to engage cooperating means on the apertured portions of said articles for determining the line of movement of said articles in removing the same from said holding elements.

11. In an article holder, a series of spaced article mounted in side by side a casing having holding elements relation, said eleportions adjacent their outer ends and fulcrum shoulders immediately adjacent said retaining portions, about which shoulders, articles must be swung for removal, an indicating device mounted above said article holders and having a reciprocable actuating or striker element extending just above all of said shoulders and disposed in the path of swinging of said articles and a rotary indicating element mounted in said indicating device and progressed by the movement of said actuating or striker element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my HOLLAND T.

signature.

CASE. 

